ART ATTACK
Fury as Banksy’s Valentine’s Day artwork MOVED just weeks after mysteriously appearing on wall
RESIDENTS have blasted the decision to move a new Banksy to an art conservation gallery.
The Valentine's Day mural suddenly appeared on the side of a building in Margate, Kent, last month - quickly attracting crowds eager to see the illusive artist's work.
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The street art shows a bruised 1950s housewife in an apron and washing-up gloves, pushing a man into a freezer.
And the piece - which is expected to be worth millions - will now be moved several miles away to a gallery.
Julian Usher, chief executive of Red Eight Gallery which is dealing with the valuable work, said: "We expect the piece to be removed by this time next week.
"Builders are actively preparing for removal and have set up hoardings and started work outside. Then it will go to an art conservator in Faversham.”
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But locals have been left fuming after it was revealed the Banksy will now be moved to be cared for by an art conservator.
Lynn said: "Put a glass cube around it. This is street art and should stay where it is.";
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David said: "Leave it where it is and where it was intended to be."
Mark said: "It's a site-specific artwork. It loses context when moved."
Builders began the delicate operation on Monday, with the process set to involve propping the house up while the piece is cut out and removed.
It's just the latest in the saga around the piece, which was removed twice, replaced by a wheelie bin and partly stolen after it appeared on February 14.
Just 24 hours after it was first spotted, council workers removed the freezer - leaving behind a blank space.
Thanet Council later made a U-turn, putting the freezer back in place - after a bizarre interlude in which it was replaced by a wheelie bin.
In a still stranger twist, the freezer was removed again, hours after after the council put it back.
A glass bottle, chair and frying pan were stolen from the mural before it could be preserved by the council.
The mural is now expected to be fully removed from the wall by next week.
The anticipated removal comes ahead of its relocation to the landmark Dreamland site in the town.
Conservationists will place the artwork between two steel sheets before it is transported and displayed inside the iconic theme park.
Mr Usher hopes the artwork, complete with chest freezer, will be ready to go on show to the public between April 7 and 10.
He added: "It will be in Dreamland for at least 12 months, but we are trying to keep it there for three years.
"There has been a lot of interest in the work from many different parties."
Removal work is described as "very intricate and tricky but relatively simple for the experts" by the gallery CEO.
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The homeowner made it clear they wanted the artwork to remain in the area to allow local people to enjoy the piece.
The value of the piece can not be confirmed yet but is estimated to be worth several million pounds.
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